What do you want in a retreat? Abundant, tropical scenery, high vibrational food, access to your own personal trainer, delicious and relaxing bodywork… I could go on. But hopefully I’ve caught your attention.

In June of 2015, my beloved Daniel and I set out for an adventure to move to Mexico and embark on a journey of health, wealth, abundance, and a new chapter. I find myself looking back on the past year and I’m literally blown away by the experiences and abundance that has found me.

The whole goal was to create a space to heal and start retreats

I spent the past three years prior to meeting Daniel attending retreats (and eventually helping put on retreats for others) seminars, exploring my inner shadows and learning about living a life on my own terms. Moving to Mexico was NOT planned, but we were given an opportunity to make the best of the situation and I figured, well if this is where I’m supposed to do some healing, I imagine others are seeking it out as well.

Why I believe a retreat is for everyone, not just for people who can afford luxury vacations

I don’t know if it was a chip on my shoulder, or if I was just afraid to invest in a retreat – in turn, ultimately, afraid to invest in myself. Whatever the “WHY” is, I kept telling myself this story that a health retreat, or a yoga retreat, or just a relaxing spa-getaway was only set aside for the privileged few who could afford luxury vacations. I was only making $12.00 USD an hour working as a wine director/consultant when I first went to Kauai on my first retreat. However, I found a pretty cheap flight ($240 round trip) and saw that I had about $2,500 in my checking and savings. I took a big risk. And I signed up and sent my first deposit and felt a rush of excitement. NOT FEAR. Crazy, right?

“What can I expect on a retreat in Mexico?”

A very good friend of mine once told me, “Expect nothing to experience everything”. With such a good phrase echoing in my mind, I still want to share with you what you a few things you can get excited about experiencing!

Airport pick up and drop offWe’ll be picking everyone up at the International airport in Puerto Vallarta. From there we’ll take a 45 minute drive directly through the jungle, maybe pick up some fresh coco water and yaka (jackfruit) and head into Sayulita to our Retreat Home.

Welcome DinnerAfter a long day of traveling, you can enjoy a fresh, delicious, and organic meal with local ingredients sourced just miles from our retreat home. Cool off with fresh hibiscus and fruit-infused waters.

Beach WalksWe’re so grateful to live just a 1o minute walk from the beach. We feel like it’s the best way to end the evening. There’s seriously nothing like watching the sun go down from our favorite spot on the beach and fully taking in the Sayulita Life.

Morning MeditationsWe’ll explore the workings of guided meditations, satsang (a soulful gathering of truth and wisdom), and silent meditations. Never meditated before? Maybe it’s a bit too woo-woo-y? No problem! We believe the beauty of exploring new ways to create powerful and successful habits and morning rituals coincide with finding the balance so many of us seek in our lives.

Group fitness, yoga, and one-on-one personal trainingWe will be doing some group workouts that are low-intensity with lasting results. We’ll have on staff a personal trainer where you have full access and free time during the day for consultations, private training, and work on technique. This is fully included in your retreat package. We will also be sending you home with a personalized fitness program of the skills you learned to work on at home.

Experience an ancient Mexico tradition: TemezcalOne of the biggest take aways many of our past retreat attendees have told us are experiences they would never have access to had they not joined us on a four or six day experience. While living in Mexico, we’ve become good friends with a local medicine woman and have experienced many times the ancient tradition of temezcals (sweat lodges). We’re thrilled to offer all retreat attendees an opportunity to meet local medicine woman and shaman, Linda, and experience this ancient tradition and release old energy and allow new energy, creativity, and abundance flow through you.

SO MUCH MORE!Part of me feels like I’m giving so much away, and then I realize how much more there is to experience while you’re out here. Once you sign up for our retreats and put down your first deposit, we send you an example itinerary of what we have planned, along with a packing list of essentials, and tips and options for economical lodging for those who wish to stay longer in Sayulita or the surrounding beach towns.

So- You ready to take the plunge?! If this sounds like a total HECK YES in your body and you’re ready for an epic experience of a life time,personally message me regarding upcoming dates for 2016 and 2017 retreats in Mexico. Still want a little more information? Check out the retreat information page here.

I think my story is fairly relatable. I was working a “job”, totally unfulfilled and overworked and under paid. I was fantastic at my job but it wasn’t my passion. I worked 80 hour weeks and lived for the weekend. I wasn’t aware of it but my lifestyle + amount of stress was weighing down on my soul and actually making me sick and overweight. I wasn’t psyched on life. I needed a freaking vacation.

I never thought I’d be one of those people to go on a “Self Improvement” workshop or retreat…

Not to say I had anything against them… I just didn’t even think I had the *time* to do something like that. In my head, it was more of a luxury than something I felt I *needed* to do. Let me tell you, this is probably a sign that you could benefit from a retreat.

It was midnight on some wednesday and I was just scrolling through whatever the search engine found for, “tropical retreats”. I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to do a yoga retreat, or a full on adventure retreat. All I knew was I wanted to get out of California and go somewhere I hadn’t been before. I found a retreat that was promoting authentic communication (radical honesty), self love, and exploring the island of Kauai. I used to live on the island of Oahu so Kauai felt close enough within proximity for me to gather my barrings. I asked for 2 weeks off of work ( I hadn’t had a vacation in 3 years) and left on October 27th, 2013 to Kauai. t went in with zero expectations. I’ll be honest, flying on a plane going somewhere where I knew no one was a bit daunting. I felt nervous, excited, and also wondering what I was gonna do my last 6 days on the island. I had no place lined up to stay and budgeted enough to eat for $20 a day…which is not a lot in Kauaii!

By the end of the 3rd day on the retreat I had a crazy a-ha moment.

I realized I had been simply observing the majority of my life without fully experiencing it. I was doing what I thought I should do or what others wanted me to do. I was living up to so many people’s expectations and realized I wasn’t serving myself by working a job I wasn’t excited about with zero benefits and not such great pay. That morning I googled, “How to write a letter of resignation” and quit my job by 9am. It was radical, and probably not the smartest decision (I went on for a year in between sleeping on friends couches… living in my car, traveling, working for life coaches and having adventures but not a whole lot in the bank..) but it was the liberation I needed. I felt free.

Now I’m not encouraging anyone to go on a trip to Bali, quit their job and then expect it to be fairy dust and unicorns for the rest of their life. Trust me. It’s a HARD journey. Living a life on your own terms is liberating and one of the best things you could do in this lifetime but it comes with many hardships. You look … no, you’re confronted with the shadow side you’ve been ignoring for years, maybe even decades. But I promise you, this is the peak of where you choose your destiny. This is the point in your life where things just happen to fall into place, without even knowing where the journey will take you. Doors that you didn’t even know existed start to appear and open for you. And honestly, that’s just the beginning.

I’d be lying if I said this blog was purely just for inspiration. Of COURSE I’d love to have you on one of our retreats or workshops, however, this is also for anyone who just needs a little nudge from the universe. Maybe you’ve been telling yourself the same story I told myself for years; too many obligations, not enough time, not enough money, whatever. But honestly, once you get real with yourself – it’s something you just can’t afford NOT to do. I’ve made some of the most authentic and genuine friendships on retreats, and I’ve continually been finding more and more about myself, my soul, and my wants and desires through experiences like these. To be honest, going on a retreat was the catalyst moment where my life changed for the better.

If this inspires you and you’re feeling like saying, “LET’S DO THIS”, check out the Retreats Page to see all upcoming Activated Living retreats and workshops.

It’s 2016 and this is the year of revitalizing and rejuvenating for me! From my emotional body, to how I choose to pamper myself, all the way down to my very cells. 2015 brought so many chapters – from creating a lifestyle brand to my boyfriend and I working out buns off to producing and hosting our first couple of Sayulita fitness retreats in Mexico.

Which brings me to my post: We’ve had so many inquiries about our last January and February retreats in Mexico that we decided to put together a last minute weekend getaway experience January 15-18th! If you’ve been telling yourself you want more adventure, more relaxation, more travel, and new experiences – I’d say check flights ASAP and get you bum down here to Mexico with us!

On a budget?

No problem! Because this is so last minute, and we want to give you the ultimate value for your stay out in Sayulita, Mexico, we’ve worked it out to make this the most economical retreat we’ll be offering in terms of international tropical retreats. Be prepared for 3 days of pampering on all levels: mind, body, and soul.

Ready to take the leap? Click hereto leave your $300 non-refundable deposit and reserve your spot on this unforgettable experience!

Space is limited. These retreats fills up fast. As of today (1/2/15) there are only 4 spots available.

*PLEASE NOTE: all are welcome! No matter what your physical fitness background, age, sexual orientation, diet – we welcome everyone. If you have an open heart and a sense of adventure, we’d love for you to join us on this retreat!

ABOUT

Activated Living is a holistic lifestyle website and podcast that integrates everything Mind, Body, and Soul. This brand was born out of a desire to celebrate a holistic, healthy, authentic life that is approachable to anyone in any season of their life. Nourish your body + feed your soul with Activated Living.

ABOUT

Activated Living is a holistic lifestyle website and podcast that bridges the gap between the Mind, Body and Soul connection. This brand was born out of a desire to celebrate a holistic, healthy, authentic life that is approachable to anyone in any season of their life. Nourish your body + feed your soul with Activated Living.